![]() | Cherry MX Blue ES87U-CE-WSS-AL | $139.00 |
![]() | Cherry MX Brown ES87U-CG-WSS-AL | $139.00 |
![]() | Cherry MX Clear ES87U-CC-WSS-AL | $144.00 |
Brand | KUL |
Model | ES-87 |
Size | Tenkeyless |
Switch Stems | MX |
Primary LED Color | n/a |
Control LED Color | n/a |
Hotswap Sockets | No |
USB Key Rollover | Full |
Multimedia Keys | Yes |
Switch Mount Type | Plate |
Built in Audio Port | No |
Built in Mic Port | No |
Interface(s) | USB,PS/2 |
Windows Compatible | Yes |
Mac Compatible | Yes |
Linux Compatible | Yes |
Warranty | 2 Years |
Cord Length | 60 inches |
Overall, this is a fantastic board. This is my first experience with a tenkeyless board, and I'm in love with it.
First, let's talk about the construction. This hands-down the sturdiest board I've ever had. it has absolutely zero flex and feel nice and solid in your hands. The plastic used in the outer case is extremely high quality and durable. The rubber pads on the bottom have so much grip that I can open and close my keyboard tray just by pushing on the keyboard itself. Seriously, this thing requires A TON of force to slide around. Even the flip-out feet (which are the sturdiest I've ever seen on a keyboard) have rubber pads, so you'll get the same amount of grip with them flipped out. The routing options for the mini-USB cable are a really nice little touch, although the channels it uses are kind of small, so not all cables will fit nicely in them. My one gripe in this area is that it comes with cheap ABS keycaps, but that's pretty standard.
One thing I didn't like at first was the feel of the Cherry stabilizers. My first mechanical keyboard was a Das Keyboard 4 with blues. The Das uses wire stabilizers, so I was a little taken aback by how the Cherry stabilized keys on this board felt at first. However, I've since gotten used to it. At first, they felt somewhat mushy and not quite as responsive as the other keys, but after some use they either loosened up, or I just got accustomed to them, because I hardly notice it now. The Das Keyboard's stabilized keys definitely felt snappier, but there is something more solid-feeling about the cherry stabilized keys. It's also much easier to swap out keycaps, so it's a worthy trade-off, I think.
I was disappointed to find that my PgUp key hardly clicks. It's kind of a minor annoyance in the grand scheme of things, as I hardly use that key, but the fact that this is an otherwise top-quality board makes the defect hard to ignore. I would have rated 4.5 stars if I could have, but I had to pick one or the other, and I couldn't justify giving a five star rating.